President's Message
June marks the beginning of summer vacations, and hopefully, some relaxation and fun. While many of us are spending time with our families, we at the League continue to expand our outreach through partnerships, voter registration events, and education on important civic issues.
Thank you to our members who worked on the recent local and runoff elections through voter registration efforts, serving as poll workers, updating voter guides, and supporting Vote411.org.
As we look ahead to the November election, the League will focus on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) activities to help ensure every eligible voter participates in our democracy by using their power to vote.
As always, we remain passionate about our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy!
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Member Orientation: Get Plugged In!
Are you new to the League or looking to get more involved? Join us on Zoom for a Member Orientation on Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 PM.
In just 30 minutes, we'll help you navigate how our League works so you can find the best way to make an impact.
You'll meet fellow members, learn about the history and mission of the League, and learn more about the committees and the specific projects each committee handles. There will be time for questions at the end.
The orientation ends at 7:00 PM, at which point we will transition directly into our June Board Meeting. You are encouraged to stay for the meeting to see our work in action. Register here for the Zoom link. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
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Local Runoff Elections - June 13
Early Voting June 1-9
Frisco will have a runoff election for Mayor, and Princeton will have a runoff for City Council Seat No. 4 (Unexpired Term). These are races for which no candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes cast in the May 2 election. Registered voters can vote in the runoff, even if they didn’t vote in the May 2 election. Local elections have a big impact on government. Make sure your voice is heard!
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Lunch with the League - McKinney and Plano
Beginning last month, our Plano and McKinney lunches have moved to different restaurants. Enjoy great conversation and connection at one of our upcoming LWV-CC buy-your-own social lunches. These events are open to all and provide a chance to discuss important issues while upholding the League’s nonpartisan policy of not supporting or opposing any candidate or political party. Feel free to bring a friend!
Tuesday, June 9, 11:30 – 1:00
Location: Joe's Pasta-N-Pizza, 2011 W. Spring Creek Pkwy #1000, Plano
Friday, June 26, 11:30 – 1:00
Location: Olive Garden, 1700 North Central Expy, McKinney
Members, please log in to the website before registering.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Socializing & Civics
On Saturday, June 13, at Schimelpfenig Library (5024 Custer Road, Plano), the League will host a free public forum. Doors open at 10:30 and the presentation begins at 11:00. Rev. Mara Richards Bim will present 'Religion in Public Schools: Navigating New Texas Legislation' where she will share information about a new law, what it means, and what to expect in public schools. Rev. Bim is a pastor, writer, speaker and spiritual director. Previously, she had a 20-year career as an award-winning theatre artist.
You can register for the presentation here. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
This event is not sponsored by the Plano Public Library System or the City of Plano.
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Brewing Democracy
Join the League of Women Voters of Collin County at Love and War in Texas on Sunday, June 14, at 2:00. Get to know other League members and enjoy meaningful conversations. Whether you're a long-time member or just curious about what we do, we'd love to see you there.
We'll be discussing the issues that matter to our community--like voting rights and fair elections--all while upholding our bedrock principle of nonpartisanship. Let's empower voters and defend democracy together!
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Book Club
All are invited to the League of Women Voters of Collin County Book Club on Wednesday, July 8, from 7:00-8:00. We will meet on Zoom to discuss The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
We will share our nonpartisan thoughts on the book as well as various discussion questions. Register and receive the Zoom link. Members, please log in to the website before registering.
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Food Security Forum Recap
Despite the affluence in Collin County, hunger is a reality for many in the community, with one in six North Texans facing food insecurity.
At a May 16 public forum, representatives from North Texas Food Bank, Seven Loaves Food Pantry, and East Plano Islamic Center spoke to an audience of LWV-CC members and guests about how their agencies are working to address food insecurity. Clarissa Clarke of NTFB said the groups affected most are children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. She described how the food bank gathers donations and, in turn, supports its partner organizations, including Seven Loaves Food Pantry.
Josh Stevens, the director of Seven Loaves, detailed the pantry’s operations and the related work of its umbrella organization, The Storehouse Community Center, to support those in need.
In addition, Asma Mohamadali, an active volunteer with EPIC, described how the center began drive-through food distribution at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the initiative has expanded as demand has continued to grow.
See the video, and to learn how you can help, see the QR codes above.
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Annual Meeting Recap
Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting!
Our bylaws require the League to hold an annual meeting to approve the budget, elect the new Board of Directors, and adopt our advocacy programs. In between the business portions of the meeting, we had fun with raffle prizes and celebrated our Volunteer of the Year, along with members who have been with the League for more than 50 years.
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LWV Collin County Launches a Youth Council
Recently, Srijan Singh, a student at Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco, reached out to us with the exciting idea of creating an LWV Youth Council. Srijan will lead this new council, which will consist of volunteer ambassadors from each of the 37 high schools in Collin County. Their focus will be on voter registration at each school, as well as educating students about elections and civic engagement.
Responsibilities of an Ambassador include:
- Maintaining communication with the Youth Council and remaining in good standing
- Establishing an LWV Youth Club at their school
- Recruiting members and organizing tasks for their school, such as social media and club meetings
- Hosting two annual voter registration drives at their school
- Promoting LWV volunteer events and volunteering at two events each year
- Teaching bi-monthly civics lessons at their school, whether as an after-school event, club meeting, or another format at the ambassador’s discretion
What Ambassadors receive:
- Volunteer service hours
- The opportunity to serve as club president
- A letter of recommendation or referral from an LWV board member
If you know a student who may be interested in becoming an ambassador at their local high school, please contact srijan.singh@lwvcollin.org.
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Community Impact Highlights Local Panel Discussion
Local organization Community Impact highlighted online a recent Collin County Connects information forum on the need for more voter education. Our Vice President, Ian Seamans, was one of the panelists discussing the issues facing voters in our area.
The lack of understanding of the registration and voting processes in Texas, including registering for absentee voting, is confusing to current and new residents. Not knowing where to find registration and voting information sometimes discourages voters from even trying to vote. You can find more information and read the article on the Community Impact website.
| Empowering voters. Defending democracy.
| The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan 501C3 organization. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We encourage informed and active participation in government, and we influence public policy through education and advocacy.
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